Punishments vs. Tests

By Aniqa Yasser

When we are afflicted with a calamity, we are quick to blame Allah (SWT) and ourselves. We can easily confuse being punished and being tested, so here is a simple guide to determine the difference between a punishment and a test.

To begin, in this world, Allah (SWT) has given us punishments and He has given us tests. Both are a part of life, but they are both so similar that we can easily confuse the two. We will sometimes blame ourselves or even blame Allah (SWT) for a calamity that we are afflicted with. To avoid doing either, it is important to understand the difference between a punishment and test. A punishment and test could be losing your job, losing a loved one, losing your home, being afflicted with a disease, and more.

To continue, Allah (SWT) is indeed Al-Azeez or Almighty. He is capable of doing anything and everything. If He wanted, He could have stopped a calamity from occurring to you, but He did not. Therefore, every hardship, tragedy, and calamity that you are afflicted with is by purpose. To completely understand why Allah (SWT) has sent us a calamity, we must identify the different types of calamities.

Moreover, calamities are both from the Qadr (power) of Allah (SWT) and from your irresponsibility and negligence. There is a difference between something that is entirely your fault and something that is completely out of your control. Something happening because of your negligence—such as deliberately swerving a car from lane to lane then landing in an accident—is very different from something like a death in the family, a natural disaster, a job loss, and more. You cannot blame something that is of your fault on Allah (SWT), therefore, your irresponsible actions cannot be a test, they are indeed a punishment. By checking in with yourself and taking a moment to self-reflect, you can conclude that the calamity has resulted from one of your actions and therefore is a punishment. When you are facing a punishment, you can also consider it as a sort of test to see whether you will repent and revert back to Allah (SWT)’s ways. When you are facing a punishment, the light at the end of the tunnel is partially in your hands because based on how you deal with the situation, Allah (SWT) may forgive you and take back the tragedy. On the other hand, any other calamity, especially major ones are tests from Allah (SWT). For example, when the Muslims were being tortured in Makkah, it was a test from Allah and they could do nothing but be patient. But, in the Battle of Uhud, when the archers left their position, the resulted loss for the Muslim army was their punishment, not a test from Allah (SWT).

Furthermore, other than these signs, the easiest way to distinguish between the two is to check your relationship with Allah (SWT) within your heart and your Iman. If you have a good relationship with Allah (SWT), then a calamity is a test from Allah (SWT) to make your relationship stronger with Him. This is a perfect opportunity from Allah (SWT) to earn rewards and have stronger faith. Think about it… why would Allah (SWT) punish you if you are trying your hardest to perform Salah, read Quran, give charity, be nicer to others, seek forgiveness, and more? If you do all these, it will become apparent to you that such calamities are indeed a test, not a punishment, because there is no reason for Him to punish you. Allah (SWT) will not punish you as long as you keep seeking repentance. Repentance is a sign of acknowledging your mistakes and trying to make Allah (SWT) happy. Allah (SWT) would never punish you for repenting because it makes your Iman stronger.

In conclusion, you shouldn’t blame Allah (SWT) for everything that has happened as a test and you shouldn’t blame ourselves for everything as a punishment. Some things are simply in the hands of Allah (SWT) while others happen because of us. It is important that we all check our relationship with Allah (SWT), and thoroughly think about what type of calamity it is. By analyzing the calamity, you will InshAllah figure out whether it is a punishment or a test. InshAllah, Allah (SWT) will never put us in a calamity that we cannot bear and save us from harsh punishment like HellFire.